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Leominster rallies around Powers

By Matt Stewart, Correspondent

Updated:
04/12/2013 07:01:22 AM EDT

SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE PHOTOS/ JOHN LOVE
Former Leominster High athlete Richie Powers, seated, sits with his family at the "Redstrong for Richie" three-on-three basketball event at the high school Thursday night. From left is his brother John, his mother Jane, father Rick, sister Jill and brother James.

LEOMINSTER -- Event organizers and visitors echoed the same sentiment repeatedly at Thursday's benefit, that Leominster is a city with a small town feel.

When word spread of the Ewing's Sarcoma diagnosis for former Leominster High athlete Richie Powers, the people of Leominster rose to the occasion in an effort to lend a helping hand.

Hundreds of people turned out to Leominster High School for a benefit event and charity basketball tournament, to support Powers, as he continues his battle with cancer.

"It's really unbelievable to have this support," Powers said. "Friends, family, neighbors, everyone has been so kind and supportive, and I can't thank them all enough. This is unbelievable, the turnout here today.

The entire event, from an assortment of impressive raffle prizes, to baked goods, and basketball officials and tournament support staff, was all due to volunteers and donations from the community.

Teams signed up in droves for the basketball tournament, with each paying a $30 entry fee. Late in the day organizers encountered a good problem, as after the brackets filled up, new teams kept signing up.

"At 3:00 this afternoon every bracket was filled, and we had 28 teams, which I thought was unbelievable," Leominster High guidance counselor and former basketball coach Steve Dubzinski said. "We then registered 22 more teams tonight. That bracket got ripped up and we just started again.

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"I'm very proud to be a member of this community tonight. I cannot get over the crowd of people here tonight."

Some of the hot ticket raffle items included an autographed Boston Celtics basketball, a replica Boston Bruins Championship ring, and beautiful gift baskets.

"Everyone worked really hard," event organizer Bobbi Raddock said. "There's not a thing we don't have for raffle items and baked goods. It was an outpouring of support for Richie and it just snowballed. You couldn't ask for a better family to help than the Powers family. I've known the Powers family for years and they have always been there for me."

A number of business organizations showed support as well, including Bay State Apparel, which donated 50 t-shirts -- which sold out -- and W.T. Rich Construction and Griffin Electric, contractors that were working on the school.

"We've had a lot of people come in just to make donations," event organizer Linda Powers said. "My nephew Richie has a long road ahead of him, with the cancer that he has and this is going to be a big help. We had relatives come in from out of state and it was just a snowball effect, with one hand helping the other."

One such relative travelling a significant distance was Richie Power's cousin John Krikorian. Krikorian made the trek from Newport News, Va.,, where he is the head basketball coach for Christopher Newport University, a Division 3 school that made it to the second round of this year's NCAA tournament.

"Richie's dad was very influential in my life," Krikorian said. "When I heard that they were doing this, and since I'm lucky to be involved with basketball in my life, I felt that I needed to be here. Richie is an accomplished athlete, and has handled this whole situation with unbelievable resiliency. To hear him say things like 'I'm going to tough it out and beat it', he's got the highest character that you want to have."

Richie Powers, a 2008 graduate of Leominster High, was a multi-sport athlete for the Blue Devils. He starred in golf, where he was a three-year captain, and pitched for the district-finalist baseball team. He went on to become Bentley University's top golfer as a senior and team captain.

"Richie was one of the few sophomores I had that was a captain for three years, was team MVP for three years and was league MVP his senior year," LHS golf coach Daryl Robichaud said. "He brought maturity and professionalism to the course. With guys like Richie, when I'm writing recommendations, I say if my eight-year-old son can grow up to be half the man he is I'll be very proud. I think that is the highest compliment you can pay a kid and their parents."

The Powers family is familiar to many in the city of Leominster, as a number of family members teach in the Leominster Public School system and many more attended the schools over the years.

"The support is fantastic," Leominster High athletic director Chris Young said. "The Powers family is such a huge family, and everybody in the community knows at least one Powers from a certain generation. This is what happens and this is what Leominster is all about."

To make a donation to defer some of Richie Powers' expenses related to his treatment, send your contribution to Leominster High School, 122 Granite Street, Leominster, MA, 01453. Make checks out to LHS Community "Redstrong" c/o Leominster High School.

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